Machine and method for drying grain

ABSTRACT

THE GRAIN DRIER IS ADAPTED FOR CONTINUOUS OR BATCH DRYING AND INCLUDES A PORTABLE FRAME THAT CARRIES UPRIGHT INNER AND OUTER GRAIN RECEIVING PASSAGE. SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF THE OUTER WALL IS A DOWNWARDLY CONVERGING PERFORATED COOLING WALL HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED DRIED GRAIN OUTLET. THE LOWER END OF THE INNER WALL IS SPACED UPWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF THE OUTER WALL SO AS TO FORM WITH THE COOLING WALL A CIRCULAR OUTLET FOR THE GRAIN PASSAGE. DRYING AIR IS DRAWN UPWARDLY THROUGH THE COOLING WALL AND WITHIN THE SPACE DEFINED BY THE INNER WALL, WHERE IT IS HEATED AND PASSED THROUGH THE GRAIN PASSAGE OVER THE FULL LENGTH OF SUCH PASSAGE. THE RATE OF FLOW OF GRAIN FROM THE PASSAGE ONTO THE COOLING WALL IS CONTROLLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PREDETERMINED DRYING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT ONLY GRAIN OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM MOISTURE CONTENT IS DISCHARGED THROUGH THE DRIED GRAIN OUTLET.

0' Ll) W 5 J. B. KUCERA FM? 1 ,6"? 7;

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR DRYING GRAIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1968/N l/ENTOR JOSEPH 5. KUCf/PA J. B. KUCERA Qt 16 MACHINE AND METHOD FORDRYING GRAIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1968 vE/vro/a JOJEPH KUCEPAB) 4. 6

,4 TTOP/YEX FYC :7; 5

F) 1 W5 J. B. KUCERA I MACHINE AND METHQD FOR DRYING GRAIN 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 20, 1968 JOSEPH a9. KUCERA EY@ZAQ/@0CMATTORNEY United States Patent Office Re. 27,573 Reissued Feb. 6, 1973Int. Cl. F26b 7/00 US. CI. 34-20 12 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The grain drier is adapted for continuous orbatch drying and includes a portable frame that carries upright innerand outer grain receiving passage. Secured to the lower end of the outerwall is a downwardly converging perforated cooling wall having acentrally disposed dried grain outlet. The lower end of the inner wallis spaced upwardly from the lower end of the outer wall so as to formwith the cooling wall a circular outlet for the grain passage. Dryingair is drawn upwardly through the cooling wall and within the spacedefined by the inner wall, where it is heated and passed through thegrain passage over the full length of such passage. The rate of flow ofgrain from the passage onto the cooling wall is controlled in accordancewith predetermined drying requirements so the tonly grain ofsubstantially uniform moisture content is discharged through the driedgrain outlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The grain drier of this invention is economicalin cost, simple in construction and efficient in operation to uniformlydry grain regardless of wind conditions prevailing during the dryingoperation or the initial moisture content of the grain to be dried. Thegrain flow through the machine is in a downward direction at all times,and the grain from its introduction into and discharge from the machineis continuously acted upon first by heated air and then by cooling air.The entire area of the grain cooling wall functions as the air inlet forthe blower of the heating unit and the entire circumferential area ofthe grain drying passage functions as an air outlet, so that the bloweris not starved and is capable of operating at all times at maximumefliciency. This efiiciency of the blower for grain drying and coolingpurposes is complemented by maintaining the depth of grain, throughwhich air fiow takes place, at about six inches or less. A furtherimportant feature of the invention is the holding of the grain in thegrain drying passage until it has been dried to a predetermined moisturecontent. This is accomplished by a control at the outlet of the grainpassage which functions to block the flow of Wet grain therethrough dueto the inability of wet grain to fiow freely. However, when this wetgrain becomes properly dried its movement is automatically continuedthrough the outlet and onto the cooling wall for discharge from themachine. The grain flow through the grain passage outlet, therefore, isnot uniform over the entire area thereof, since such flow takes placeonly after the grain has been dried to a predetermined moisture content.Wind action blowing against one side of the grain passage thus merelydelays the grain drying action at such one side until proper drying hastaken place. By virtue of the controlled flow of grain through the grainpassage, the machine is readily adapted to handle and efliciently dryvarious types of grain such as corn, oats, wheat, barley and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the grain drying machine of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 in FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view as seen along the line 4-4 in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the control means forregulating the flow of grain from the grain drying passage;

FIG. 6 is illustrated similarly to FIG. 7 and shows the control means ina changed position;

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of a grain discharge swoop mechanismthat forms part of the machine; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective of a dust collector that forms a part of themachine, with portions broken away to more clearly show itsconstruction.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the drying machine, indicated generally at 15 isillustrated as including a portable frame 16 of a generally equilateraltriangular shape in plan view having ground wheels 17 rotatablysupported at opposite ends 18 of the frame base member 19. A hitchmember 21 projected forwardly from the frame apex section 22 is adaptedfor connection with a towing vehicle (not shown). When the machine is inuse and disconnected from the towing vehicle the frame 16 ishorizontally levelled by the provision of ground engaging jackassemblies 23 that are carried on the base member 19 and apex section22.

Projected upwardly from adjacent each end 18 of the base member 19 is achannel member 24. A pair of spaced upright channel members 26 areprojected upwardly from the apex section 22. All of the channel members24 and 26 are of the same size and of substantially equal height and asshown in FIG. 2 are arranged with their base or web sections 27 extendedgenerally radially of the center point of the portable frame 16indicated at 28 in FIG. 2.

Spaced upwardly from the ground wheels 17 and secured to the outer legsof the channel members 24 and 26 is an outer circular perforatedupwright wall 29 which is cut away between the front channel members 26over its full height. An inner perforated circular upright wall 31,secured to the inner legs of the channel members 24 and 26, has a lowersection cut away between the front channel members 26. The inner andouter walls 29 and 31 are thus arranged in a concentrically spacedrelation to form a grain passage 32 that has a width equal to the widthof the web sections 27 of the upright channel members 24 and 26.

As shown in FIG. 4 the inner wall 31 is of a shorter height than theouter wall 29 and is positioned with its lower and upper ends 33 and 34,respectively, spaced above and below the lower and upper ends 36 and 37,respectively, of the outer wall 29. The inner wall 31 is provided with acone-shaped top wall 38 having a peripheral portion secured to the upperend 34 of the inner wall and an apex portion located below the level ofthe upper end 37 of the outer wall 29. A bottom or lower wall 39 of aninverted frusto-cone shape has the outer peripheral edge 41 thereofsecured to the lower end 36 of the outer wall 29. The central portion ofthe bottom wall 39 is formed with a dried grain outlet 42.

It is seen, therefore, that grain supplied within the open to pend ofthe outer wall 29 is directed by the cone shaped member 38 at the top ofthe inner wall 31 for gravity flow into the angular grain passage 32,and downwardly of the passage 32 for flow outwardly therefrom and ontothe bottom wall 39 through the annular outlet 43 formed between thelower ends 33 and 36 of the inner and outer walls 31 and 29,respectively. The grain thus delivered to the bottom wall 39 flowsdownwardly for discharge from the machine 15 through the dried grainoutlet 42.

Located in a concentrically spaced relation within the inner wall 31 isa heater unit 44 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of a conventional type that includes anupright cylindrical housing 46 the lower end of which constitutes aninlet 47 for cold air and its upper end an outlet 48 for heated air.Mounted within the housing 46 is a burner unit 49 and a blower unit 51relatively arranged so air drawn into housing inlet 47 is discharged bythe blower about the burner 49 for travel of the heated air from thehousing outlet 48. The housing 46 is supported directly from the topcone member 38 by hangar members 52.

A partition member 53 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of a frustoconical shape has itsupper end 54 secured about the housing at a substantially midwayposition on the housing 46. The lower peripheral portion of thepartition member 53 terminates in an annular ring member 56 of a channelshape in transverse cross section having its outer leg secured to theinner wall 31 at a position adjacent the inner wall lower end 33, Thepartition member 53 is cut away over the portion thereof, indicated at57 in FIG. 3, at a position between the front channel members 26 toprovide for the location of an operators compartment 58 (FIG. 1) thathas a floor section 59 mounted on the portable frame, sidewalls 61 andback and top walls 62 and 63, respectively. The back wall 62 constitutesan instrument panel for the controls 64 of the machine 15. It is thusseen that the partition member 53 (FIG. 4) divides the space defined bythe inner wall 31, operator compartment walls, top wall member 38 andlower wall member 39 into a cool air chamber 66 and a hot air chamber67.

A control valve 68 (FIGS. 4 and 5) for regulating the flow of grainthrough the grain passage outlet 43 includes an upright ring member 69arranged in a telescopic relation with the lower end of the inner wall31 for adjustable vertical movement relative to the inner wall lower end33 so as to constitute an adjustable extension of the inner wall towardand away from the bottom wall 39. This adjustment is accomplished by theprovision of a series of adjustable upright screw assemblies 71 that arespaced about the inner peripheral surface of the ring member 69. Eachscrew assembly 71 has a threaded shank 72 projected upwardly through thebottom wall 39 for threaded engagement with an associated nut 73 that isseecured to the ring member 69. A collar 74 fixed on each screw shank 72is supported between a pair of vertically spaced bearing members 76 thatare carried on the under side of the bottom wall 39 and receive a shank72 therethrough. The lower end of each screw shank 72 terminates in alaterally extended handle 77.

On manipulation of the handles 77 the screws are rotatable in onedirection to move the ring member 69 to its upper position shown in FIG.5 so as to completely open the annular outlet 43 of the grain passage32. On rotation of the screws in an opposite direction the ring member69 is movable to a lower position as shown in FIG. 6 to close the outlet43.

In the operation of the machine 15 for the batch drying of grain thecontrol valve 68 is moved to a closed position and grain is suppliedinto the open top end of the outer wall 29 to fill the annular grainpassage 32 and a hopper 78 that is formed by the top wall 38 and theupper portion of the outer wall 29. With the heater unit 44 in operationatmospheric or cool air is drawn by the blower 51 through the perforatedbottom wall 39, into the cool air chamber 66 and through the heaterinlet 47 for discharge from the heater outlet 48 into the hot airchamber 67. From the hot air chamber 67 the heated air is forcedtransversely through the annular grain passage 32 over substantially itsfull length, and upwardly through the top wall 38 and the hopper 78 soas to act upon all portions of the grain within the machine 15.

After the grain has been dried to a predetermined moisture content thecontrol valve 68 is opened so that the dried grain is free to traveldownwardly of the grain passage 32 and onto the bottom wall 39 fordischarge through the grain outlet 42 and into the hopper 79 (FIG. 4) ofa usual grain unloading auger 81 for unloading either into a receivingwagon or into a grain bin.

In a continuous grain drying operation the same procedure is followed asfor the batch drying operation described above. However, when the grainwithin the lower portion of the grain passage 32 reaches a predeterminedmoisture content the control valve 68 is partially opened to regulatethe rate of flow of the grain downwardly through the grain passage 32.This rate of flow is predicated on the time required for the grain totravel through the grain passage 32 to provide for the grain at thelower end of the passage being at the predetermined moisture content.Stated otherwise the rate of flow is dependent upon the initial moisturein the grain and the heat required to bring the grain to a predeterminedmoisture content.

By virtue of the cool air being drawn through the bottom wall 39, thedried grain flowing from the passage outlet 43 is subjected to a coolingaction prior to its discharge from the grain outlet 42 whereby to bettercondition the grain for storing purposes. Likewise, it will be notedthat the heat thus removed from the dried grain increases thetemperature of the atmospheric air admitted into the cool air chamber 66so as to aid in the heating elliciency of the heater unit 44. It will befurther noted that the blower unit 51 is maintained at maximumefficiency by virtue of the large inlet area afforded by the perforatedbottom wall 39 so that the blower is not starved for air.

Due to wind conditions that may be acting against the outer wall 29 andto varying moisture conditions of the grain being dried uniform dryingof the grain will not take place if all of the grain passed through theoutlet 43 at the same rate. This non-uniformity of moisture content inthe dried grain is overcome by virtue of the fact that wet grain has aretarded flow relative to dry grain. As a result wet grain on reachingthe outlet 43 will tend to pack rather than flow. Because of thispacking tendency of the wet grain, such grain is retained within thegrain passage 32 for a longer time period than the properly dried grainwhich will immediately tlow through the outlet 43. When the wet grainretained at the outlet 43 has been properly dried it will automaticallyflow through the control valve 68 onto the downwardly inclined bottom orcooling wall 39.

Thus, during a continuous grain drying operation the flow of grainoutwardly through the passage 43 will be non-uniform over variousportions of the passage 43. Importantly, however, all of the grainpassing from the outlet 43 will be properly dried and of a uniformmoisture content. This dried grain from the outlet 43 moves downwardlyof the cooling wall 39 for discharge through the dried grain outlet 42.

It is seen, therefore, that the rate of grain flow downwardly of thegrain passage 32 is regulated by the control valve 68 in accordance withthe heating or drying requirements of the kind of grain being dried. Inthe drying of oats and like light weight grains it has been found thatsatisfactory cooling and drying is obtained by permitting the oats toflow unobstructed from the passage outlet 43 and downwardly of thecooling wall 39 to the discharge outlet 42. When heavier weight grainsuch as corn is being dried it may be desirable at times to prolong thecooling and drying period to properly condition the corn for storage.

For this purpose there is provided a flow control mechanism 82 for thedischarge outlet 42 (FIG. 7) which includes an upright frame 83 of anopen or spider construction having upright legs 84, illustrated as threein numher, that are circumferentially spaced about the outlet 42 withtheir lower ends secured to and mounted on the cooling wall 39. Theupper ends of the legs 84 are bent inwardly for connection to a commonupright support screw 86 that is in coaxial alignment with the outlet42. A control member 87 of an inverted pan shape has a hub member 88threadably adjustable on the support screw 86 for vertical adjustment ofthe lower peripheral ring 89 thereof relative to the cooling wall 39.Thus, by lowering or raising the control member 87 the flow of grainthrough the outlet 42 is retarded or accelerated, respectively.

It will be appreciated that when the grain How is retarded the grainwill tend to pile upwardly of the cooling wall 39 so as to form a layerof grain on the cooling wall 39. Since the cooling wall 39 is of arelatively large area the grain layer may be of a thickness of aboutthree inches without interfering with a free flow of air therethroughinto the cool air chamber 66. The cooling and drying action on the wall39 is thus maintained without starving the blower unit 51 whileproviding for an initial heating of the atmospheric air supplied to theblower unit 51 and an increase in the heating efficiency of the heaterunit 44.

The side wall of the grain discharge outlet 42 is defined by a flat ringmember 91 (FIG. 7) that is located within the circle formed by theupright legs 84 of the frame 83. Extended radially inwardly of the legs84 are arm members 92 the inner ends of which are connected together bya mounting ring 93 for an electric motor 94 that has a shaft 96projected downwardly in axial alignment with the discharge outlet 42.The lower end of the shaft 96 carries a pair of radially extended spiralshaped vanes 97 the outer ends of which project over the flat ringmember 91 adjacent the upper surface of the ring member.

Grain flowing through the control passage 98, formed between the lowerend 89 of the control member 87 and the top surface of the cooling wall39, and onto the ring member 91 is moved from the ring member by thevane members 97 to the discharge outlet 42. Since the properlyconditioned grain will flow more readily through the control passage 98than grain requiring additional drying, the vanes 97 will maintain acontinuous discharge of all grain that is collected on the ring member91.

It is seen, therefore, that the grain to be dried is continuouslysubjected to a free fiow of drying air from the time it enters themachine at the hopper 78 until it is discharged through the outlet 42.In this respect it will be noted that the annular grain passage 32 isabout six inches wide as defined by the legs of the channel members 24and 26 and extends over the full height of the hot air chamber 67 so asto form the peripheral wall thereof. Likewise, as the grain from theannular passage 32 travels over the cooling wall 39 it is subjected tothe action to the blower unit 51. As previously mentioned the coolingwall 39 is of an appreciable area and with a grain fiow thereovcrlimited to a thickness of about three inches at free fiow of airtherethrough is permitted. Additionally, the flow of grain is at acontrolled rate through the adjustments of the control valve 68 andcontrol mechanism 82 to provide for a proper drying of the grainregardless of its initial moisture content or prevailing wind conditionsduring a drying operation.

In the drying of grain the action of the forced air thereon effects aseparation of the chaff and fines that are generally intermixedtherewith. The collection of this fine material within a drying machinewil create a fire hazard unless it is periodically removed from thedrying machine. This removal of the fine material is an inconvenience tothe machine operator and as a result is often neglected.

In the present invention the fine material is continuously removed fromthe machine so as to positively eliminate any fire hazard. Thus, aspreviously described in connection with FIG. 4 the lower peripheralportion of the partition member 53 terminates in a ring member 56 of achannel shape in transverse section. This ring member forms a track foran endless chain 99 which, at the cutaway portion 57 of the partitionmember 53, extends through the operator compartment 58 (FIG. 3). Mountedwithin the compartment 58 is a collection box 101 (FIG. 8) for the finematerial that has a hinged bottom door 102. A motor 103 supported withinthe box 101 has a drive gear 104 in meshed engagement with the chain 99.

As best appears in FIGS. 3 and 8 the chain 99 travels through openings106 formed in a pair of opposite side walls of the box 101. The adjacentends of the track 56, at the cutaway portion 57 of the partition member53 are continued so as to extend inwardly of the box 101 at the openings106. The chain 99 over the length thereof is provided with a series oflaterally projected spaced sweeping fingers 108.

A portion of the fine material will enter the hot air chamber 67 (FIG.4) through the perforated inner wall 31 and perforated top wall 38.Likewise, another portion of the fine material will be blown upwardlyfrom the grain traveling on the cooling wall 39 and through the heaterunit 44 into the hot air chamber 67. This fine material within thechamber 67, although acted upon by air discharged from the heater outlet48, will gravitate downwardly of the chamber 67 and along the topsurface of the partition member 53 for collection in the track member56. The fine material thus collected is moved along the track by thesweeping action of the chain 99 and the fingers 108. As the chain andfingers leave the track 56 for travel through the box 101 the finematerial moved by the chain and the fingers 108 is dropped into the box101 from which it is removed on opening of the bottom door 102. It isseen, therefore, that any fine material entering the hot air chamber 67is continuously removed from the zone of the heater unit 44 for depositwithin the box 101.

I claim:

1. A grain drying machine comprising:

(a) a cylindrical shaped perforated outer wall,

(b) an inverted cone shaped perforated bottom wall for said outer wall,having a centrally disposed circular grain outlet,

(c) a cylindrical shaped perforated inner wall mounted in aconcentrically spaced relation within said outer wall, with the lowerend thereof spaced above said bottom wall,

(d) a cone shaped perforated top wall for said inner wall,

(e) the space between said inner and outer walls defining a grainpassage, the space between the lower end of the inner wall and saidbottom wall defining an outlet for said grain passage, and the spacewithin said inner wall defining an air chamber means, with grainsupplied into the top end of the outer wall being fiowable through saidgrain passage and the outlet therefor onto said bottom Wall for downwardtravel to said grain outlet,

(f) a heating unit centrally disposed Within said air chamber means,including a burner and a blower,

(g) partition member for dividing said air chamber means into an upperheated air section and a lower cool air section,

(h) said blower acting to draw cool air through the bottom wall of saidouter wall and into said cool air chamber section for discharge throughthe heating unit and into said heated air section for flow of the heatedair transversely of the grain passage through said inner and outerWalls, and

(i) means for controlling the flow of grain from said grain passageoutlet onto said bottom wall.

2. The grain drying machine according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said heating unit includes an upright cylindrical housing having aheated air outlet at the top thereof, and a cool air inlet at the bottomthereof, and

(b) said blower mounted within the lower end of said housing so as tocontinuously draw cool air through said bottom wall and the grainthereon.

3. The grain drying machine according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said control means includes an upright control member of a ringshape telescopically received within the lower end of said inner wallfor extension and retraction therefrom, and

(b) means adjustably supporting said control members for adjustableextension and retraction from the lower end of said inner wall tocontrol the flow of grain from said grain passage outlet to said grainoutlet.

4. The grain drying machine according to claim 1 including:

(a) means for controlling the flow of grain through said grain outlethaving an upright regulating member of a ring shape concentricallyspaced about said grain outlet,

(1)) an upright frame of an open construction mounted on said bottomwall about said grain outlet and within the confines of said adjustablemember, and

(c) means adjustably supporting said regulating member on said framemeans for movement axially of saidl grain outlet toward and away fromsaid bottom wa 5. The grain drying machine according to claim 4including:

(a) a motor on said frame means having a downwardly projected shaftcoaxial with said grain outlet, and

(b) a sweep member mounted on said shaft above said grain outlet havingend portions movable over the bottom wall portion adjacent the grainoutlet for discharging into said grain outlet the grain moving theretofrom said regulating member.

6. The grain drying machine according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said partition member is of a frustum shape having a top end securedabout said heating unit and a bottom end secured to said inner walladjacent the lower end thereof,

(b) a dust removing means including dust collecting ring extended aboutthe periphery of the bottom end of said partition member and having asection thereof removed to form a dust discharge portion,

(c) a dust container enclosing said discharge portion,

((1) an endless dust conveying means ridable on said collecting ring andmovable through said dust container to unload the dust conveyed therebyat said discharge portion, and

(e) motor means in said dust container for operating said conveyormeans.

7. The grain drier according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) said dust collecting ring is of a channel shape in transversesection, and

(b) said conveyor means includes a chain having a series of laterallyprojected sweep members ridable in said collecting ring.

8. The method of drying grain which comprises:

(a) supplying the grain to be dried into an upright annular grainpassage having perforated side walls,

(b) directing the grain from the lower end of said passage for dov.nward flow on a downwardly converging perforated cooling wall having acentrally disposed dried grain outlet,

(c) drawing cool air upwardly through said cooling wall and the grainthereon,

(d) heating said cool air and directing the heated air transverselythrough said grain passage from the inner wall to the outer wallthereof, and

(e) controlling the flow of grain at the lower end of said passage sothat only dried grain flows therefrom onto said cooling wall fordischarge through said dried grain outlet.

9. A grain drying machine according to claim I wherein:

(a) said heated air on transverse flow through the grain passage isexhausted directly into the atmosphere, and

(b) the means for controlling the flow of grain from said grain passageoutlet onto said bottom wall includes a downward extension of said innerwall to form with the top surface of said bottom wall a grain passageoutlet with a vertical height less than the width of said annularpassage, and an annular grain flow-retarding member spaced upwardly fromsaid bottom wall and coacting with the upper surface thereof to form alayer of grain on said bottom wall of a predetermined thickness.

10. A grain drying machine according to claim 9 wherein:

(a) said grain outlet has a side wall defined by a horizontal ringmember,

(b) a rotatable sweep member supported in a coaxial relation with saidgrain outlet having sweep portions movable about said ring memberadjacent the top surface thereof, and

(c) means for operating said sweep member to continuously move, fromsaid ring member and into said grain outlet the dried grain that hasflowed into the rotational path of said sweep portions.

11. A grain drying machine according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) said sweep portions having the terminal ends thereof spaced inwardlyfrom the outer peripheral surface of said ring member.

12. The method of drying grain which comprises:

(a) supplying the grain to be dried into an upright grain passage havingperforated side walls,

(b) directing the grain from the lower end of said passage for downwardflow onto a downwardly inclined perforated drying and cooling wall thelower end of which terminates in a horizontal shelf defining the sidewall of a dried grain outlet,

(c) drawing cool air upwardly through said cooling and drying wall andthe grain thereon,

(d) heating said upwardly drawn cool air and forcing the heated air intothe atmosphere transversely through said grain passage from the innerwall to the outer wall thereof and over substantially the full lengththereof,

(e) controlling the flow of grain downwardly of said grain passage andthe drying and cooling wall at a rate providing for the drying of thegrain to a predetermined moisture content, and

(f) removing from said shelf for discharge into said outlet only grainon the shelf that is spaced outwardly from the lower end of said dryingand cooling wall.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,793 12/ 1 87 8 Luckenbach 3415 2,576,05811/1951 Weber 3420 2,627,670 2/1953 Hurst 34174 2,799,947 7/1957 Slevess34-15 2,991,559 7/1961 Pierpoint 34174 3,233,337 2/1966 Tomlinson 34653,237,315 3/1966 Benecke 3465 3,313,040 4/1967 Mathews 34174 3,333,3488/1967 Ausherman 34-174 1,086,950 2/1914 Stanton 34-15 3,175,302 3/1965Retali 34-20 WILLIAM I. WYE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

